Knowledge of the Higher WorldsAnd Its Attainment,

The Way of Initiation or
How to Attain Knowledge of the Higher Worlds,
Initiation and Its Results,
Knowledge of the Higher Worlds: How Is It Achieved?
How to Know Higher WorldsA Modern Path of Initiation,L'initiation,
Wie Erlangt Man Erkenntnisse der Hoeheren Welten?

Rudolf Steiner(Written 1904–1905; GA 10 / Bn 10 / CW 10)

Click to Visit the Verlag

The first English version of this basic work by Rudolf Steiner,
appeared in print in 1904 as two volumes with the titles:

“The Way of Initiation or How to Attain Knowledge
of the Higher Worlds,” (Bn 10.1)

“Initiation and Its Results.” (its sequel) (Bn 10.2)

It was extensively rewritten, and the new version appeared in English
translation in 1923 with the title,
Knowledge of the Higher Worlds and Its Attainment.
This book, perhaps the most controversial of Steiner's extensive
literary legacy, suggests the possibility of a person in the 20th
century developing sufficient skills of concentration, empathy, etc.
to be able to obtain first-hand knowledge of spiritual realities
consciously. It was originally published in German as,
Wie Erlangt Man Erkenntnisse der Hoeheren Welten?.

The contents of this book are:
How is Knowledge of the Higher Worlds Attained?
The Stages of Initiation
Initiation
Some Practical Aspects
The Conditions for Esoteric Training
Some Effects of Initiation
The Transformation of Dream Life
The Continuity of Consciousness
The Division of Personality during Spiritual Training
The Guardian of the Threshold
Life and Death, The Greater Guardian of the Threshold

GA 10 / Bn 10 / CW 10 ... Selections ...

This book is an early version of the first half of the book
entitled Knowledge of the Higher Worlds and Its Attainment.
The book Initiation and Its Results corresponds to the second
half of Knowledge of the Higher Worlds and Its Attainment.
Chapter titles are: The Superphysical World and Its Gnosis,
How to Attain Knowledge of the Higher Worlds, The Path of Disciple-
ship, Probation, Enlightenment, Initiation, The Higher Education of
the Soul, and, The Conditions of Discipleship.

Initiation and Its Results is an early version of the second
half of the book entitled Knowledge of the Higher Worlds and
Its Attainment.
Chapter titles are: The Astral Centers(Chakras),
The Constitution of the Etheric Body, Dream Life, The Three States
of Consciousness, The Dissociation of the Human Personality
During Initiation, The First Guardian of the Threshold, and,
The Second Guardian of the Threshold — Life and Death.

This book, perhaps the most controversial of Steiner's extensive literary
legacy, suggests the possibility of a person in the 20th century developing
sufficient skills of concentration, empathy, etc. to be able to obtain
first-hand knowledge of spiritual realities consciously.
In the collected edition of Rudolf Steiner's works in German, the
volume containing the German text is entitled
Wie Erlangt Man Erkenntnisse der Hoeheren Welten?,
(Vol. 10 in the Bibliographic Survey).
This translation into English was made by George Metaxa, with revisions
by Henry B. Monges.

Knowledge of the Higher Worlds and Its Attainment constitutes a
fundamental guide to the anthroposophical path of cognition or knowledge.
In human consciousness, faculties are sleeping that, if awakened, lead to
life-giving wisdom. With great clarity and warmth, Rudolf Steiner details
the exercises and moral qualities to be cultivated on the path to a
conscious experience of supersensible realities.